LOTUS EMIRA ─ ECU Tuning options

[Tracked Emira]

Yes, 460bhp isn't a massive number but it definitely blew my V6 trans apart and Emira owners deserve to know that it can and sometimes does happen. I was running a TVS1900 chargecooled supercharger, MOTEC ecu and other associated hardware to mitigate the extra stresses of track day driving and to keep everything "safe". I liaised with Komo-tec extensively when tuning the car and they warned me that my gearbox would likely let go beyond 450bhp and 440Nm - not if, but when.
They sell an uprated gearset, JUBU sell their own too and state in their blurb: "The manual Lotus OEM gearbox hits its limits at about 450hp of power output."
During my ownership of 3 exiges I was a member of SELOC, Exiges.com and Lotustalk. Do your own research, I wasn't the only V6 owner with a destroyed gearbox. We aren't talking large numbers of owners, just a percentage of those that ventured north of 450bhp/440Nm.
Word for the wise, don't believe a word from the keyboard warriors on the forums, if I was an Emira owner looking to tune my V6 I'd speak to Komo-Tec and/or Jubu about their experiences of failures during testing/tuning.
Don't even get me started on the costs to get the V6 engine to consistently and reliably perform beyond 450bhp......this engine and trans are not a great starting point if you like tuning

Is this also a concern for the automatic transmission?

 

[Rayjoedef]

Taking mine to Burger Tuning in Simi Valley this Thursday to see what's possible for ECU tuning on the Emira AMG

Hey
Was your car the blue i4 at bms? Curious what your thoughts are with the jb4

 

[Steve24]

Obviously there are different opinions on the dangers of increasing power beyond a certain point in terms of the transmission.

JUBU sell this uprated clutch kit, which they say is good for up to 500hp and 600Nm

JUBU Performance -

Tuning und Porsche/Lotus Service in Österreich, Inspektion und Unfallreparatur für Lotus und Porsche. Vertrieb von Porsche und Lotus Performance Parts.

www.jubu-performance.com

So the question is, would fitting this kit alleviate any concerns we may have in this area?

And, how difficult / expensive is a clutch change on the V6 Emira?

 

[Orchardbike]

A clutch change is a big job. The engine needs to come out (I know, mine’s been out 3 times!). JUBU state that the clutch and flywheel are both ‘weak’ areas. I know and accept that JUBU want to sell stuff, so advertising areas as ‘weak’ plays into their hands. However, I will say that I had the clutch, flywheel and gearbox let go in my standard power V6 manual. The standard V6 manual car that’s used at Thruxton for customer track days has just had its gearbox replaced as well. So it’s certainly possible that the gearbox is a weak area. JUBU also state of course that the rods, pistons and valves are also likely failure areas.

 

[FST]

A clutch change is a big job. The engine needs to come out (I know, mine’s been out 3 times!). JUBU state that the clutch and flywheel are both ‘weak’ areas. I know and accept that JUBU want to sell stuff, so advertising areas as ‘weak’ plays into their hands. However, I will say that I had the clutch, flywheel and gearbox let go in my standard power V6 manual. The standard V6 manual car that’s used at Thruxton for customer track days has just had its gearbox replaced as well. So it’s certainly possible that the gearbox is a weak area. JUBU also state of course that the rods, pistons and valves are also likely failure areas.

The good thing is.. once it lets go, its time to do a proper overhaul with high end stuff all will work out fine, turn the negative into a positive

 

[Porter]

JUBU also state of course that the rods, pistons and valves are also likely failure areas.

It's worthwhile to remember that very few of their parts seem to be custom engineered. In fact most are from US companies, off the shelf. A savvy researcher can likely find the identical items for a fraction of the Austrian asking price.

 

[FST]

It's worthwhile to remember that very few of their parts seem to be custom engineered. In fact most are from US companies, off the shelf. A savvy researcher can likely find the identical items for a fraction of the Austrian asking price.

Totally agree.. their thermostat can be purchased from toyota for 30 usd!!

 

[Reesebobby]

It's worthwhile to remember that very few of their parts seem to be custom engineered. In fact most are from US companies, off the shelf. A savvy researcher can likely find the identical items for a fraction of the Austrian asking price.

We’ll definitely want a cheaper price for that $6000 axle they are selling

 

[Lotus F1]

A clutch change is a big job. The engine needs to come out (I know, mine’s been out 3 times!). JUBU state that the clutch and flywheel are both ‘weak’ areas. I know and accept that JUBU want to sell stuff, so advertising areas as ‘weak’ plays into their hands. However, I will say that I had the clutch, flywheel and gearbox let go in my standard power V6 manual. The standard V6 manual car that’s used at Thruxton for customer track days has just had its gearbox replaced as well. So it’s certainly possible that the gearbox is a weak area. JUBU also state of course that the rods, pistons and valves are also likely failure areas.

This is just another good reason to have gotten the AMG motor and DCT. So glad not to worry about clutches and delicate older motor

 

[David s]

We’ll definitely want a cheaper price for that $6000 axle they are selling

“Customer track car”. Says everything.
I’ve had 2 v6 Exiges in the past(8 years of combined ownership), I’ve also upgraded the sc to a tvs sc and had various non internal bits changed to improve the hp. Both cars had some pretty hard miles on the track, and both cars were used as daily drives. No one here down under that i know has had any problems with the drivetrain, gbox, Pistons, or anything else JUBU bangs on about. Maybe we just drive our cars a bit soft down here, who knows. Anyway. I’m glad that our cars down here don’t have the mechanical problems your cars over there have.
Also. My wife has an A class AMGs. It’s failed us many times. From drivetrain, to auto box, to damaged turbo. Real bucket of shit really. But I don’t know anyone else that’s had as many problems with their AMG as we’ve had. So I guess I’m just unlucky…or maybe I just can’t drive an auto box car.

 

[seriously]

Totally anecdotal but I had a guy share with me that the i4 AMG engines can have issues later down the line. He owned one and doesn’t want another.

 

[Beachbum]

Totally anecdotal but I had a guy share with me that the i4 AMG engines can have issues later down the line. He owned one and doesn’t want another.

Did he say what the issues were ?

 

[David s]

Did he say what the issues were ?

Turbo and gearbox. I’ll bet.

 

[seriously]

Did he say what the issues were ?

Sand in the coolant system. Quick google search shows that if it happens, it shows up early. At least one person with a Lotus experienced it here:


Don't mean to worry anyone. Literally someone just told me on Friday and I had no idea anyone had issues with the AMG engines.

I did have a mid-engined car in the past with coolant issues and it was such a bear to resolve because mid-engine cars have so much more coolant hose than front engine.

 

[Rayjoedef]

Spoke with lotus engineering about that.....very few turbo cars across the country are experiencing the casting sand in coolant. Those that have, however, are having a tough go of it.